Clamping fixture for workbenches



April 5, 1949. H. E. cLAuss 2,466,209

CLAMPING FIXTURE FCRWORKBENCHES Filed May 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 YINVENTOR. HEEM/I/V 5. 6240.55

H. E. CLAUSS CLAMPING FIXTURE FOR WORKB ENCHES Filed May 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

P 1949. H. E. CLAUSS 2,466,209

CLAMPING FIXTURE FOR WORKBENCHES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3, 1945 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 CLAMPHNG FIXTURE FUR WORKEENCHES Herman E. Clauss, Affton, Mo.

Application May 3, 1945, Serial No. 591,820

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a clamping device for Workbenches used by carpenters, cabinet-makers and mechanics.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device of the character to overcome certain practical objections to, and defects in the present types of clamping devices that can be used on Workbenches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping device which, when supported by a workbench along the front edge thereof, will clamp boards, or other material or devices in a secure position for dressing, shaping, assembling and the like, either in front of the bench top, or on the bench top and to accommodate material of various lengths and dimensions, and which can be readily attached and detached from the workbench when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp body which can be horizontally adjusted upon a guide member, which has two members associated therewith which are vertically adjustable relative to the clamp body and relative to each other, and which has a third member detachably supported by one of the two associated members.

A still further object of the invention resides in a structure which will be comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture, which can 'be readily attached to old as well as new workbenches, and which will be highly efiicient for the purpose intended.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of conin like characters of reference denote like parts 4i throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a workbench clamp embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of two clamps supported by a workbench.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the clamp body.

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the clamp body.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a detachable U- block member.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a toothed clamping member adjustably supported by the clamp body.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a clamp member having an adjusting screw for moving one clamp body toward the other.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings and now to be described is merely one of many ways inwhich the invention may assume concrete 2 form. This embodiment is therefore to be taken as simply typical of a variety of forms which the invention may take in shaping itself into concrete form.

In the present embodiment of the invention, there is provided a clamp supporting member, channel in cross-section, and consists of the wall I having the upper and lower flanges 2 which terminate in inwardly projecting wall members 3 spaced from the wall l, and spaced from each other to provide a gap i. The channel member is preferably, although not necessarily, secured to the front face of any suitable support such, for instance, as the top A of a Workbench, or the like designated 13. The channel member can also be secured to the front face of a plank of any desired length and width that can be clamped to a suitable supporting structure, such, for instance, as spaced horses used by carpenters for supporting boards while sawing, planing, morticing, nailing, or performing other operations thereon. The channel member forms a guide member or way for movable clamp body members of the clamping fixture.

A pair of like, but right and left clamp body members 5 each having their inner face provided with a horizontally disposed T-shaped tongue 6, are slidably mounted within the way of the channel member. The body member 5 of each clamp device is disposed in front of the channel member, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Each body member 5 is held in its adjusted position with relation to the other body member by means of suitable fastening devices such, for instance, as a thumb-screw I.

The body member 5 embodies a V-jaw designated, generally as C, located at the inner end thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. Each body is further provided with a pair of suitably spaced vertically disposed boss like members designated 8 and 9 having the vertically disposed holes designated ii) and l l, respectively. The bosses are spaced from the V-jaw and from each other, and with the thumb-screw I located between the body bosses 8 and 8.

Supporting rods l2 and i3 are slidably mounted in the holes iii and l l of the bosses 8 and 9, respectively, and the rods are held in desired vertical adjusted position by a suitable fastening device such, for instance, as screws l4 preferably, although not necessarily so, carried by theboss 9, as it can be carried by either the boss 9 or 8.

A work supporting plate like member l5 having an apertured head it is slidably mounted on or other member, shown in dotted lines and designated D in Fig. 2, clamped between the V-jaws C of adjacent clamp bodies 5.

A fiat plate-like member l8 provided with ears 19 and 20 at the front corners thereof is supported in a horizontal position over the table top, or channel support A. The ears l9 and 20 are suitably secured to the upper ends of the rods l2 and i3, respectively, as will be apparent from Fig. 1, so that the clamping member I 8 can be vertically adjusted relative to the workbench top, or channel support A. In Fig. 3, the clamping member i8 is shown in dotted lines in an elevated position above the workbench top, or channel support A. V

The inner edge of the fiat clamping member I8 is provided with suitable teeth 2i along one edge thereof at a right angle to the length of the channel member. The teeth 21 are preferably, although not necessarily beveled on the lower faces thereof, as at 22, so as to provide a rather sharp edge 23 to bite into the ends of a board designated E, and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, as lying flat on the bench top or channel support A between two of the clamping members I8. It will be apparent that work pieces other than boards can be clamped between the clamping members I8, as well as the d-jaws C. The work piece E can either lie upon the bench top A, or be supported above the bench top, due to the vertical adjusting arrangement of the rods l2 and I3.

Each clamping member i8 is further provided with a pair of suitably slotted openings Z lwith the enlarged ends 25 which are spaced apart to accommodate or receive spaced pins 25 having heads 2'! projecting downwardly from a suitable clamping member 28 which is provided at its inner end with a V-opening 29 to provide a V- jaw therefor. Thus, the clamping members 28 can be detachably secured to and supported by the clamping members it, with the V-end 29 of the clamping members 2'8 projectin beyond the toothed edges of the clamping members l8 for holding a work piece designated F therebetween, which work piece is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that the V-jawed clamp member 28 can be readily attached to, or detached from, the toothed clamp member I8 as the heads 2! on the pins Eli can readily pass downwardly through, or upwardly through the enlarged ends 25 of the slots 2a in the clamp member l8. To look the clamp member 28 on the clamp plate l 3, the member 28 is moved so that the pin 26 will lie at the small ends of the slotted openings 24 to allow the heads 21 to contact the lower face of the clamp member l8.

It will also b clearly apparent that the toothed clamp plate 18 can be readily detached from the clamp block by unloosening the finger screw l4 and lifting the rods or pins 52 and it from the bosses 8 and 9, respectively. Also, the work supporting plate 15 can be removed from the rod 9 by unloosening the finger screw ll and sliding the head =16 ofi the rod 9 from the lower end thereof.

Further, the clamp blocks 5 can also be removed from the channel member by withdrawing them therefrom through the open ends thereof. Thus, it will be apparent that the clamp blocks 5 can be used as V-block clamps with or without the clamping members 18 and 28, and the supporting plate [5 in assembled relation therewith.

While I have described a specific structure for the clamping members l8 and 28 and the supporting plate l5, it is clearly apparent that the structure thereof may b modified, yet serve as clamping, holding or supporting members for the material, or parts to be worked upon while being held in position thereby such, for instance, as when assembling parts, or the like.

The channel member is secured to the bench top or support A by suitable fastening devices 39 and can be of any desired length, thus the clamping fixture can be made to handle work pieces of great length as well as work pieces of very short lengths.

In order that one of the clamp bodies 5 may be screw adjusted toward the opposite clamp body 5 after the latter body has been secured against displacement on the channel supporting member, and a work piece positioned on the fixture, I provide one of the bodies 5 with a screwthreaded member 3| which member is suitably secured, as at 32, to the outer end of the body 5 and projecting therefrom as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Associated with the screw M is a suitable block 33 which is slidably mounted on the channel member and locked against displacement thereof by means of a suitable fastening device 34 adapted to bear against the lower face of the channel member, as shown in Fig. 3. The block 33 is bifurcated and walls 35 of the bifurcation are provided with openings 35 for the screw 3| to pass through. A suitable finger operated nut 37 is mounted on the screw 3! and located in the bifurcation of the block 33 so that in turning the nut 3'! in one direction, the clamp body associated with the screw 31 can be moved toward the other clamp body 5 to lightly clamp small or delicate work pieces between selected clamping members carried by the slidable clamping bodies 5. With heavy work pieces, the clamp bodies 5 can be moved with considerable force to cause the selected clamping members to tightly engage the ends of the work pieces, and, in such cases the fastening devices 34 can be loosened from contact with the channel member so as to freely follow its respective clamp body 5.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I provide a simple clamping fixture, that is easily and quickly adjusted to accommodate most any class of work.

The many advantages of the invention will readily suggest themselve to those skilled in the arts to which the invention relates, whether cabinet makers, carpenters, or mechanics.

What I claim is:

1. In a workbench clamping fixture, an elongated channel member secured to the front vertical face of the top of the workbench with the upper face of the channel member flush with the top face of the workbench, a pair of elongated clamp jaw supporting bodies independently and horizontally slidably supported on the channel member to lie closely adjacent the front face of said member with the upper and lower faces of the clamp jaw supporting bodies being confined within the limits of the upper and lower faces of the channel member, means for frictionally engaging the channel member for locking the clamp jaw supporting bodies against sliding movement relative to each other and the channel member and for independently releasing the bodies for sliding movement toward and away from each other, a vertical tubular boss on each clamp jaw supporting body adjacent the outer end of the jaw, a rod adjustably supported by the tubular boss, and a rotatably and vertically adjustable work piece rest member supported by the rod of each clamp'jaw supporting body.

2. In a work piece clamping and supporting fixture for Workbenches, a channel member secured to the vertical front face of the top of the workbench with the upper face of the channel member flush with the top face of the workbench, an elongated clamp body having a full length T-shaped portion arranged on the back face thereof slidably mounted on the channel member for supporting the clamp body closely adjacent the front face of the channel member and parallel with and closely adjacent the upper front edge of the workbench, means for looking the clamp body in a horizontally adjusted position on the body member, a jaw at the inner end of the clamp body adapted for contact with the side edge of a work piece, a vertical tubular boss carried by the clamp body adjacent the outer end of the jaw, a vertically adjustable rod carried by the boss, means for locking the rod in an adjusted position, a horizontally and vertically adjustable work piece rest member carried by the rod below the clamp body capable of underlying the jaw to support a work piece at a desired elevation, and means for locking the work piece rest member in its adjusted position on the rod.

HERMAN E. CLAUSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 106,349 Evans Aug. 16, 1870 132,115 Stevens Oct. 8, 1872 10 302,385 Cooper July 22, 1884 306,052 Birch Oct. '7, 1884 665,398 Broadbooks Jan. 8, 1901 707,641 Rostochil Aug. 26, 1902 832,087 Scoggins Oct. 2, 1906 834,703 Behringer Oct. 30, 1906 841,012 Helm June 8, 1907 960,369 Mitchell June 7, 1910 1,203,692 Briles Nov. 7, 1916 1,631,428 Olson June 7, 1927 2,383,201 Kruchten Aug. 21, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 30,270 Germany Mar. 2, 1884 291,678 Great Britain June '7, 1928 

